I started this page a little less than a year ago as we entered our 10th year on this journey with Amanda’s heart issues. I was hoping and praying that I wouldn’t need to post more updates for a while but that doesn’t seem to be the plan. As we now enter into our 11th year of this journey we face another challenge.
Amanda’s health has been declining since the first of the year. It has been gradual but has worsened over the past 3-4 months. It turns out the valve she had replaced last September failed. She will be having another surgery Wednesday to replace the valve that was placed last year.
We don’t understand exactly why we’ve endured these years of trials but we do know God reigns, is in full control, has and will work all things for his glory. We’ve seen this first hand through our story. If you know that story you know God began preparing us as a couple for this journey long ago, before we were even married. We’ve tested every part of our vows since. We’ve seen all sides of for better or worse, rich or poor, and in sickness and health! They take on a different meaning when you are living them out for real. We have only become closer to each and to God. Our faith has become stronger because of what we have been through also.
We are already in Houston for pre-op visits. Amanda had an appointment with her electrophysiologist (pacemaker doctor) today. We both like him, he is a straight shooter, uncouth, and vulgar! That being said it is refreshing to have a doctor who doesn’t blow smoke and tells it like it is. He shouldn’t have a part in this surgery unless there are complications with her pacemaker leads but we needed to keep him in the loop. He did have a concern and will be speaking with the surgeon prior to the surgery. We have another pre-op appointment with one of the surgeons and I’m sure will speak with the anesthesiologist also.
We are old hands at surgeries in general and are already in the grove. Not something that’s great to be so intimately familiar with but none the less we are. We are all checked in to our usual hotel that is just across the street from the hospital, had dinner at a new to us restaurant close by, obtain a reasonable (probably excessive) amount of snacks, and have the fire stick running and already watching Netflix. We’ve stayed in this hotel many nights over the past few years so it’s pretty much a home away from home. We know many of the staff and a few know us by name. It was nice this stay because we had enough reward points to stay for an entire week for free, which is a blessing because our hotel bill usually tops a grand fairly quick. The normalcy of things makes everything go much easier and just seem like another trip.
Please pray for strength and peace for Amanda as we prepare for surgery and that all eyes be pointed to Jesus through our story. I will be posting regular updates through her surgery Wednesday and throughout her recovery. I’ll post tomorrow explaining a little more about the surgery and what all it will entail.